Robbie Rivera's Juicy Beach Party 2010

Miami and Ibiza native Robbie Rivera is known the world over for his sexy, warm weather beats. His early productions like “Bang” and “Funkatron” laid the foundation for the electro genre and it’s hip-hop hangers on. His label, Juicy Music, consistently releases quality house music supported by the world’s top DJs.

Every March, he steps off the cold floors of DJ Booths everywhere and onto the warm sand at Miami’s Nikki Beach for his Juicy Beach Party. With a mixture of superstar DJs and up and coming talent, he expects to draw about 7,000 people over 17 hours to this dance music oasis. It all takes place Thursday, March 25th during the Winter Music Conference.

We caught up with Robbie to find out more about the party and offer some tips for the Miami newbie.

Episode 9:

• Top Tracks from Adultnapper and Mr. C, Luca Bacchetti, D. Ramierz, Oscar G
• What’s Hot News
• Live Mix from GET MOBBED party on 2-6-2010 by Bang Lee

Immortal Changes by Robert Babicz

Immortal Changes by Robert Babicz

From sting trios to slow throbbing techno; from sullen downtempo to optimistic soundscapes;  Robert Babicz’s second artist album is certainly diverse but always beautifully melodic and warmly analog with an underlying experimental and psychedelic tone.  His goal was to achieve very personal electronic music and this album showcases that ability to connect with the listener on an emotional level both at home and on the dancefloor.

Listen to samples or download it legally here.

– Robert LaFrance

“Devi8or” (Original Mix) by D. Ramirez [Slave]
The man with the best hair in dance music releases an all-out stormer of an EP. The B-side is “Devi8or” with an evil male vocal, heavy bass, punchy percussion, and drops that will build and build into a frenzy. A brilliant production of pure peak time madness. (not yet available for purchase but you can listen here)

“Keep Off” (Original Mix) by Adultnapper & Mr C. present Sycophant Slags [Poker Flat]
These two quirky individuals team up to prove 1 + 1 = 3. Adultnapper lays his typically unconventional minimal funk foundation for Mr C.’s haunting, snake-like vocal performance. Together, they make an indelible fusion which will have you humming “sky’s the limit” while you peak at the equally striking video.  Listen and purchase legally right now at beatport.com

Ryan Crosson

“Something In The Way” (Ryan Crosson Remix) by Kelly Johnston [Culprit]
The dubby synth pads that kick this track off provide little inking of the pounding tech-house to come. But ultimately those atmospherics are skillful combined with trippy vocals, aggressive acid-flavored chord stabs, and heavy bass. Make sure to play the full 7 plus minutes of this one!  (not yet available)

– Robert LaFrance

Get Weird - A mix by Hubert Wozniak

Check out his techy deliciousness! Also, don’t forget to come by Bar in New Haven this Sunday, February 21 for House for Haiti – a benefit. My set is at 9:30 with headliners Markie Gee and Lenny Fontana of Great Stuff Records.

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Thanks again to everyone who came out to our most successful GET MOBBED party yet!  True house music for true house music lovers!

Mr. Bang Lee:

Nate Sherwood:

Love the Mob Hats in full effect on this one:

Rebel Rave US Tour

After putting their signature mark on the underground dance music community with highly original, trend defying DJ sets and releases, Damian Lazarus and his Crosstown Rebels label crew have announced a two month, 23 date North American tour.

I saw Damian perform a daytime set at the Beatport Pool Party at last year’s WMC and was entranced by his eclectic track selection –  from subtle and psychedelic to deep and tough – and his overall integrity.   Now sensitized, upon my return I got turned on to his label, it’s artists, the amazing Rebel Rave video series, and the LazPod podcast – always defying expectations and pushing boundaries.

So, it’s with great enthusiasm that I post the dates and promo video below and hope to catch them on the dancefloor!

REBELRAVE US TOUR 2010 from David Terranova on Vimeo.

Tour Dates:

- Robert LaFrance

Tarry Not feels like a manifesto for the future of techno.  This collection of dark, brooding, intricate tech-house never makes it above 128bpm but feels downright energetic due to its layers of expertly crafted, ever-evolving sounds, subtle melodic textures and vast analog-style bass.  This is holistic, human-machine music for the next generation of the underground.

Click here to hear samples of all the tracks and purchase it legally at Beatport.com.

– Robert LaFrance

“Jawbreaker” (Original Mix) by Ascii.Disko [Body Function]
The straight-forward house beat that sets this in motion offers little hint of the punishing energy to come. The incessant rising synth riff builds in layers and layers until the break where it becomes all-encompassing then bangs into a monster groove.  Found at beatport.com.

“Space Oddity” (Maher Daniel Remix) by James Teej [My Favorite Robot Records]
Using only a small portion of the lyrics to this David Bowie cover, Maher Daniel is able to make this track his own.  A perfect mid-set, well-paced track with gliding bass, plenty of white noise sweeps and mellow middle interlude to ease the tension and up the class.   (not yet available)

“Sinful Ladies” (Original Mix) by Umek vs Jay Lumen [Great Stuff Recordings]
The complex percussion poly-rhythms and syncopated keyboard stabs keep you on the edge of your seat begging for more.  Then, the drop introduces some happy melodic bells and flute – but don’t be fooled – “Sinful Ladies” never goes soft on you.   Found at beatport.com

– Robert LaFrance

The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, one of the world’s biggest music events, has announced it’s official lineup and it certainly features a solid number of dance and electronic music artists.

Big wigs such as Orbital, Tiesto, Deadmau5, David Guetta, Plastikman (aka Richie Hawtin), Benny Benassi, LCD Soundsystem are represented along with more underground artists like Dirty South, Sia, Major Lazer, Kaskade, and The Glitch Mob.

Of course, when you mix in a whole heaping of other genres and world class acts like Jay-Z, Gorillaz, Thom Yorke, Sly and the Family Stone, Public Image Limited, The Specials, etc, etc, you’re looking at an amazing three days and $269 well spent (minus travel and accomodations).

So, if you’re one of the lucky ones thumbing your nose at this recession, BOOK NOW! Otherwise, we can wait for the YouTube videos.

Here is the full lineup:

FRIDAY APRIL 16:  Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend, Deadmau5, Public Image Limited, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen, Benny Benassi, Fever Ray, Grace Jones, She & Him, Erol Alkan, The Avett Brothers, Calle 13, The Whitest Boy Alive, The Cribs, La Roux, Yeasayer, Lucero, DJ Lance Rock, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Proxy, Ra Ra Riot, Deer Tick, Wolfgang Gartner, Aeroplane, Iglu & Hartly, Sleigh Bells, P.O.S., Baroness, Hockey, Little Dragon, White Rabbits, Wale, Kate Miller-Heidke, As Tall as Lions, Jets Overhead, Alana Grace, Pablo Hassan.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17:  Muse, Faith No More, Tiësto, MGMT, David Guetta, The Dead Weather, Hot Chip, Devo, Coheed and Cambria, Kaskade, 2Many DJ’s, Major Lazer, Dirty Projectors, Gossip, Z-Trip, The xx, John Waters, Les Claypool, The Raveonettes, Mew, Sia, Camera Obscura, Tokyo Police Club, Porcupine Tree, Old Crow Medicine Show, Aterciopalados, Bassnectar, Frightened Rabbit, Dirty South, Flying Lotus, Corinne Bailey Rae, Pretty Lights, Shooter Jennings, RX Bandits, The Almighty Defenders, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Craze & Klever, Zoe, The Temper Trap, Portugal. The Man, Band of Skulls, Girls, Beach House, Steel Train, Frank Turner.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18:  Gorillaz, Pavement, Thom Yorke????, Phoenix, Orbital, Spoon, Sly and the Family Stone, De La Soul, Julian Casablancas, Plastikman, Gary Numan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sunny Day Real Estate, Yo La Tengo, MUTEMATH, Deerhunter, Infected Mushroom, Club 75, Matt & Kim, The Big Pink, Gil Scott-Heron, King Khan and the Shrines, Florence and the Machine, Yann Tiersen, Little Boots, Miike Snow, Talvin Singh, Ceu, B.o.B., Babasonicos, Owen Pallett, The Glitch Mob, Mayer Hawthorne, Local Natives, Rusko, The Middle East, Hadouken!, The Soft Pack, Kevin Devine, Paparazzi, Delphic, One EskimO.

- Robert LaFrance